Press pad



Nov. 26, 1957 D. A. FREEMAN 2,814,135

PRESS PAD Filed Aug. 17, 1954 PRESS PAD David A..Free nan, Chicago, Ill. Application August 17, 1954, Serial No. 450,3;92

. claims. (a 33+) This invention relates to a press pad or cushion for general laundry and cleaning work and particularly for use with dry cleaningpresses, laundry presses,garn ent manufacture presses, putters, various types of domestic and commercial ironing machines and ironing boards, and -thelike.

A press pad or cushion for garment pressesand ironing machines generally must have a number of Characteristics, some of which appear to be contradictory. Thus the press material must havea sufficiently firmsurface so that any material to be pressed will have sulficient force applied thereto in addition to heat and possibly seem so "that the material willbe smoothed out and provided with .asatisfactory finish. In other instances it may be desirable to impart a sharp crease or creases to the material being worked upon. Where the press material is used in commercial machines such as garment presses, it must also be porous. Thus if the press material is to be used in the head or buck of a garment press, it should be porous to steam. It should also be sufliciently porous so that the vacuum impressed upon the buck will be effective to draw steam and moisture through the work. In many instances, a garment press will have a porous pad or cushion upon the buck working against a perforated metal plate on the head. The metal plate or other pressingn ember will have limited resilience and give.

Garments or other material disposed in a press to be worked upon do not simply consist of fabric alone. Such work also includes the usual accessories in. garments such as buttons, snap fasteners, hooks and eyes, and the various metal or plastic parts making up zippers or slide fasteners. All of these materials are usually unyielding and require that the press pad or cushion must have sufficient give to accommodate these hard items. However, the yielding of a press pad or cushion to such items asbuttons, zippers and the like should be confined to the area covered by these items and not extend beyond these items. Thus for example, a button should be accommodated by the press pad or press cushion to the extent that the bu'tton. is permitted to dig into the pad or cushion surface. However, in order to obtain agood pressing, is essential that the area immediately surrounding the button should be pressed. Many pressing plates or accessories used with a garment press have suflicient stiffness orrigidity so that in the case of buttons, for example, there usually a zone surrounding the button where no pressing is accomplished due to the fact that one or both lofthe cooperating pressing surfaces fails to contact the garment surface. v In accordance with this invention there is provided a press pad or cushion which combines a high degree of resilience and fgive with sufficient elasticity and stiffness sonnet a satisfactory medium for pressing dry cleaned or laundered fabrics is provided. The invention in general contemplates a novel laminated'material which is gene lly. applicable to a wide variety of uses and which is rovided with attaching means to render the same parlarly useful as 'a press pad orpress cushion. The

States Patent laminated material consists of a layer or layers of porous resilient foam or sponge material, such as rubber or any of thesy'nthetic or plastic materials of which'foam or sponge rubbery materials may be 'made. The resilient material has intercommunicating cells so that itis suf- .ficiently porousto permit steam or airto pass through the same and must at;the same time be resistant to heat, moisture and to such physical wear-and-tear as abrasion, repeated compressions, and the like. The foam or sponge materiaLmust' have sufiicient resilience and elasticity so lthat after compression the same will return to its original condition and such. material 'should have negligible set. If the foam material is not bf rubber, then the resilience andelasticity' of foam rubber should be substantially equalled. Theflayer of layers off'oam material probably have a'thickness of the order of from about up to any desired thickness such as about 1 /2" or more. In general, the thickness ofthe foam material will be of a decidedly higher order than the thickness of the two facing' components 'of the laminated material.

Disposed upon one sideor face of the foam material in sheetTform is a layer of substantially nonstretchable material. This layer, which will generally form the base or inside layerQinay consist of such materials as cotton, nylonjasbestos, or any other fiber, natural or synthetic, which may be woven and which has suflicient mechan cal strength. The substantially nonstretchable material is woven or fabricated so there is substantially no stretch in any direction. In some cases, as, for example, in 'a pressing plate where it is desired to provide a pressing surface having outstanding properties in preventing'seam me other impressions in the fabric being pressed, the nonstre'tchable layer may be the conventional perforated press plate itself and thus may consist of metal screening, perforated metal or plastic sheet material, or the like. In

all 'casesit'is important that the fo'am'rnaterial be firmly attached to the nonstretchable materialso that good and permanent adherence is obtained over the entire meeting surface. I t

The-other, or What might be termed the outside, or top face of the foam sheet'may have appliedthereto a porous material which is stretchable. This stretchable material may consist of any textile material, either natural or synthetic, and is preferably knitted in'tricot or stockinet forin thus imparting a two-way stretch 'tothe" material. It is not essential that the stretch in the tw o directions be equal and under certain conditions a material having a one-way stretch will suffice. The stretchable material, like the foam and nonstretchable material must be porous and be resistant to heat, moisture, abrasion, and should preferably have sufficient'elasticity and resilience so that the material has substantial tendency to return to a normal condition after having been" stretched.

" In order to adapt the new laminated material for'use asa press pador press cushion, it is preferred toprovide means for attaching or retaining the material in position on asupport. W

In order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be made to the draw.ngs wherein exemplary embodiments are illustrated, it being'understood, however, that variations both in construction and in material may be made without departing from the scope of the invention except as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 shows a garment press as one of the devices to which the new press pad may be app ie Fig. 2 shows a plan view with certain parts broken away of a new press pad or cushion embodying the present invention.

' is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, .illattr' s t e .sss twqti th ne lam nated material and the manner in which the marginal apron is attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the press pad or cushion illustrated in Fig. 2 and showing the means for drawing the apron tightly.

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the action of the new pad material when a hard unyielding object such as a button is encountered in a garment.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing part of a garment press plate having the new pad material constituting a pressing surface.

While Fig. 1 illustrates one form of a garment press to which the invention may be applied, it is to be understood that this is exemplary and that the new press pad or cushion may have a wide variety of applications to 'cleaning and pressing machines of both commercial and domestic types. In addition, the material of which the new press pad or cushion is made may have wide application to fields other than laundering and the like.

Referring to Fig. 1, the garment press shown there comprises a head generally indicated by 10 hingedly secured in the usual fashion and adapted to cooperate with buck 11 supported on a suitable table 12. Head 10 includes a steam chest which is supplied with steam from a suitable steam generator, the steam generally being supplied at pressures of the order of about 75 or 100 lbs. per sq. in. As a rule, a steam valve either of the automatic or manual type is provided so that when the head is disposed down against the buck, steam will be supplied to the steam chest in the head and raise the temperature of the pressing surface. In the usual garment press, head 10 will have a steam permeable pressing appliance. In such a garment press, buck 11 may also have a steam permeable pad or covering and the buck may have the interior thereof connected to a suitable means for creating a suction on the surface of the buck to draw steam and moisture from the head through a garment and into the buck. In certain cases where smooth surfaced fabrics are handled, a so-called hot head press is used, the pressing surface at head 10 being generally impermeable to steam so that the head is heated but does not provide steam upon the garment surface. In such case, it is customary to supply moisture or steam upon the garment by means other than from the head.

As is well known, head 10 may contain means for diffusing the steam so that the steam as it issues from the pressing surface of the head will be diffused and will not impinge upon the Work as a plurality of sharp steam jets. A conventional press plate may be used at the head for pressing. If desired, the new pad may be used as a press plate in conjunction with a steam diffuser. The new press pad or cushion may in itself combine the functions of a steam diffusing means and a pressing surface. The pad may be secured to the perforated press plate in any desired manner, as by adhesive applied in spaced intervals so as not to destroy the porosity of the pad. Figure 6 illustrates this and will be described in detail later.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, the new pcrous laminated material consists of foam or sponge material which, as has been previously pointed out, may consist of rubber, either natural or synthetic, or may consist of plastic materials such as for example silicone, vinyl, polyester, isocyanate, which has elasticity and resilience, is inert to moisture and steam, and which will withstand heat up to about 350 F. and repeated compression, stretching and bending. The foam or sponge 'has interconnected cells and is permeable to steam or air. Permeable foam material 29 may have any desired thickness and for use as press pad or cushions probably has a thickness of from about to as much as 1 /2".

Where the material is used as a cover over old or different padding, the foam material may have a thickness of from about up to as much as about /8" Where the material is used as a complete pad by itself and is not used in conjunction with other padding, then the foam material may range in thickness from about up to as much as 1 /2.

Foam material 20 is in sheet form having a normally uniform thickness and has on one side or face thereof nonstretchable material 21; Facing material 21 is substantially nonstretchable and may consist of woven textile material. The nonstretchable material has a sufficiently open weave so as to render the same porous. As an example, I have found that a material known as Shafer fabric used in the manufacture of automobile tires is particularly desirable. This material as a single ply cotton fabric having between about 25 and about 35 threads to the inch is highly desirable as a base facing. This material, however, is exemplary and the number of plies and the number of threads to the inch may be varied within wide limits. So long as material 21 is substantially nonstretchable and is porous and has some flexibility with regard to bending, it may be used.

Thus under certain circumstances, nonstretchable layer 21 may be of material other than textile fabric and may, for example, consist of metal or plastic screening or perforated sheet material. However, generally a woven material out of any textile fiber or fibers such as cotton or any synthetic material, such as nylon and the like, is preferred,

Material 21 is disposed against what may be termed the inside face of sheet 20. Disposed against the outside face of permeable sheet 20 is facing material 23 which is stretchable. The stretchable material must also be porous and preferably consists of a knit material as tricot or stockinet. The fiber of which the stretchable material is made may be of any nature desired, such as cotton or any natural or synthetic fiber material.

in general, laminated material consisting of permeable foam sheet 20 and layers 21 and 23 will be formed in endless lengths and may be cut to size as desired. Thus as an example, stretchable material 23 may have applied thereon foam material 20 in the form of a cream or viscid liquid. This material after having its outer surface smoothed and after having set may then have cemented thereon nonstretchable material 21. Nonstretchable material 21 may be cemented to the sponge material by spraying cement. Other methods for the manufacture of the laminated material are also possible. In all cases, material 21 should remain porous. The porosity of the three layers is sufficient for air or steam to pass through.

The laminated material consisting of foam layer 20 and stretchable and nonstretchable facings 23 and 21 respectively is cut to size when it is used for a press pad or cushion. As illustrated in Fig. 3, for example, marginal apron 25 is attached to the edge of the laminated material by suitable means. Preferably, apron 25 is attached to the edge of the laminated material by overedge stitching 26. Such overedge stitching is well known in the manufacture of knitted underwear and the like and generally provides a plurality of lines of stitching with additional stitching going over the edge of the material. The tension of the threads during stitching is so adjusted that foam material 20 is compressed to a fraction of its normal thickness.

Apron 25 is preferably nonporous and nonstretchable and may, for example, consist of coarse canvas. It is possible to have apron 25 consist of either nonstretchable material 21 or stretchable material 23 or of both materials, forming a double thickness apron. In case apron 25 is formed of one or both of layer materials 21 and 23, the apron may be an extension of either or both of these layers. However, even in such case, the overedge stitching is desirable for mechanical reasons in providing a tightly compacted and reinforced marginal portion for the pad or cushion.

Apron 25 may have a variety of means for attaching the pad or cushion to the table or part of the apparatus upon which the pad or cushion is to be carried. Thus for example, apron 25 may be provided with loops or string, eyelets, grommets, hooks, or may have coil springs attached thereto so that the pad or cushion may be disposed over part of a table or other stationary object for retaining the pad or cushion in position. As an example, referring to Fig. l, coil springs 27 and 28 may be attached to opposed parts of the apron for stretching the pad over the head of the garment press if the new pad is to be used on the press head.

Instead of apron 25, other attaching means as given above for example may be used. Such other attaching means may be carried by the pad material directly instead of being carried by the apron.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, the free edge of apron 25 is turned over and stitched at 30 to provide hem or pocket 31 extending the full length of the apron. As a rule, apron 25 does not extend continuously and unbrokenly around the edge of the pad or cushion. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the break in the apron may occur at any desired point, as for example at 32. Within hem or pocket 31 there may be disposed suitable means for conveniently drawing the apron up tightly to retain the pad or cushion in position. The long, straight sides 33 and 34 of a pad or cushion for a garment press may have rods 35 and 36 disposed in pockets 31. These rods may be of metal, plastic or wood and should preferably be stiff enough to maintain the apron straight and taut. Rods 35 and 36 have one end of each attached to coil spring 37 which may extend around curved end 38 of the pad. It is understood that spring 37 is also disposed within pocket 31. Cords 40 and 41 are tied to the free ends of rods 35 and 36 and these cords are brought out from the ends of pocket 31. Cords 48 and 41 may be of any suitable material and should be strong enough so that when the new pad or cushion is used on the buck the apron may be pulled tightly under the buck.

This same construction may be used for a cover or pad for any domestic ironing table or for any other apparatus or device. It is also possible to supplement the cord and rod and spring means with additional coil springs bridging across the edges of the apron in the manner illustrated in Fig. l.

The new pad material and pad make it possible to pull the inside nonstretchable facing material taut without tensioning or compressing the foam layer. Thus the foam material is substantially relaxed and maintains its normal thickness. The foam material is free to respond to loads impressed upon the foam. The stretchable outer facing material usually has abrasion and handling characteristics superior to the foam material and in addition provides a covering to protect the foam against light and oxidation. In addition, the stretchable material imparts a surface tension to the pad tending to draw the foam material together when the surface of the pad is locally disturbed. Thus in the case of a button being forced into the pad, it will be found that the stretchable outer layer tends to pull the foam tightly up around the button edge. Referring for example to Fig. 5, an enlarged detail shows the pad material yielding to button 45 carried by fabric 46. The press plate may be a generally rigid perforated plate which would be damaged by button 45 if the pad did not yield. The edge of the button is hugged tightly by the compressed pad material and consequently results in a pressing of the fabric immediately around the button.

In the case of a garment press as illustrated in Fig. 1, the head, buck or both may have pads or cushions embodying the present invention.

Where the garment press head is provided with the new pad, the porosity of the pad is useful to supplement the action of steam diffusers. As is well known, the steam at from about to about lbs./ square in. must have the pressure reduced and the steam diffused over the press head surface. Thus referring to Figure 6, a press plate consisting of plate 48 is provided with lateral deformations or arches 49 extending up preferably from one side or face of the plate. These arches or minute bridges are so formed as to provide exits or entrances 50 and 51 communicating with passages 52 extending through plate 48. Plate 48 may be of aluminum, steel or other material which naturally resists corrosion or is surface treated to resist corrosion. The arches are oriented in various directions. Either side of the plate may be the high pressure side with steam passing through the same.

Foam material 53, as rubber for example, is attached to the diffuser plate. As illustrated, the foam material is attached to the side of the plate having the arches. However the material may be attached to the other side of plate 48. The attaching may be by cement or other adhesive, care being taken so that the openings in the plate and the pores in the foam are not sealed. The foam material is cellular and permeable to steam or air. Stretchable material 54, as stockinet, is shown as attached to the outer surface of the foam material. The stretchable material may be omitted if desired.

I claim:

1. A porous flexible pressing pad comprising resilient porous sheet material having elasticity so that the same will return to its normal dimensions under repeated compression or stretch, said material having interconnected cells to render the material permeable to steam or air, said material having a facing of substantially nonstretchable material on one side thereof and a facing of stretchable porous material on the other side thereof, said elastic sheet having a thickness of a substantially higher order than that of the facing materials, said materials all being resistant to moisture and heat and being steam permeable.

2. A flexible pressing pad comprising resilient sheet material having elasticity so that the same will return to its normal dimensions under repeated compression or stretch, said material having a facing of substantially nonstretchable material on one side thereof and a facing of stretchable material on the other side thereof, said elastic sheet having a thickness of a substantially higher order than that of the facing materials, said materials all being resistant to heat.

3. A flexible pressing pad comprising resilient sheet material having elasticity so that the same will return to its normal dimensions under repeated compression or stretch, said material having a facing of substantially nonstretchable material on one side thereof and a facing of stretchable material on the other side thereof, said elastic sheet having a thickness of a substantially higher order than that of the facing materials, said materials all being resistant to heat, and a marginal strip of nonstretchable material attached to said pad, said marginal strip being used for attaching said pad to a support and for maintaining said pad taut on a support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,504 Lange Dec. 4, 1917 1,590,983 Polski June 29, 1926 1,844,128 La Chapelle Feb. 9, 1932 1,895,731 Prenzel Ian. 31, 1933 2,249,363 Johnson July 15, 1941 2,482,412 Gershon Sept. 20, 1949 2,539,714 Young Jan. 30, 1951 

